The 6-7 Jets are still in contention for a wild card in that "grab a calculator" sort of way but this week will make their lack of fortunes more apparent. The Jets are 1-5 in road games with their lone win by two points over the Falcons in week five. The 9-4 Panthers were just manhandled in New Orleans and will not be in a giving mood this week.

Pregame Notes: The Jets reversed a three game losing streak with their first win since week nine. Unfortunately that required a bad secondary visiting New York and this week it will be one of the best defenses on the road. There is still hope for a win in the remaining home game against the Browns and returning receivers are improving the offense. But all that still won't make it even average.

QUARTERBACKS:Geno Smith comes off one of his best games in months when he threw for 219 yards and a score while also running for 50 yards and a second touchdown. That was his first game over 200 yards in six weeks as well as his first passing score in the last seven games. This is not shaping up to be a good week.

RUNNING BACKS:Chris Ivory scored for the third time this year and gained 76 yards against the visiting Raiders but his road record is far less accomplished and he's sharing eight to ten carries per game with Bilal Powell anyway. The last time he faced a decent defense he only gained 35 yards on nine carries in Baltimore.

WIDE RECEIVERS:Jeremy Kerley returned after missing four games and immediately made a difference with four catches for 41 yards and the lone touchdown reception. Santonio Holmes also has one of his best games of the year by catching three passes for 55 yards but this brief offensive spurt doesn't change the fact that this is one of the worst sets of receivers in the NFL and short of a bad team visiting there is never any reliable fantasy value here. Even less when facing a top defense.

TIGHT ENDS:Kellen Winslow is taking over the primary tight end role from Jeff Cumberland but that still only means three catches per game for marginal yardage and no touchdowns. No reliable fantasy value here either.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: The Panthers have only allowed four passing scores to visiting quarterbacks all year and never more than one. There has only been one running back to rush in a score in Carolina as well. Do not start any of these players. It will be a surprise enough if even one touchdown is scored.

Pregame Notes: Getting spanked by the Saints doesn't help but at least the rematch happens next week in Carolina and facing the Jets and Falcons as well should be two more wins. The important part of this game is to not look past to next week though the defense of the Panthers is so good and the offense of the Jets is so bad that what is more likely to happen is that the Panthers leave a lot of points on the field they could have scored.

QUARTERBACKS:Cam Newton was handled by the Saints with surprising ease but he'll bounce back this week against a bad secondary and a home game where he always shines. Newton never throws for high yardage because the need is always so small considering what the defense does to all non-Saints opponents. Newton is on a four game streak of 50+ rushing yards.

RUNNING BACKS: Jonathan Stewart tore his MCL and will be out this week. He may get back in time for the season finale but more likely won't see the field again until the playoffs. That gives DeAngelo Williams the heavier load again though he really did nothing with it in previous weeks. Williams hasn't rushed for more than 55 yards in the last seven games and scored only twice all year.

Mike Tolbert hangs around to steal yards and scores though even he hasn't seen the end zone since week nine. Tolbert remains below fantasy relevance but is generally better in home games.

WIDE RECEIVERS: A very average group at best and only Steve Smith offers any consistency. Even that is only around 50 or 60 yards per week and yet never once turning in more than 70 yards in any game this year. He scored in New Orleans but that was his first touchdown since week seven. Marginal production at best from this crew.

TIGHT ENDS:Greg Olsen is no major difference maker but he is an integral part of the game plan for the Panthers and is catching five or more passes for the last month. He comes off a season high eight catches for 40 yards in New Orleans but his better efforts have all been versus weak secondaries.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: The Jets secondary may be even worse since Antonio Cromartie has a concussion and may not play. The Jets are allowing over two passing scores in road games and even higher yardage for those who take it but the Panthers are not going to instantly become a passing team. The Jets are tops at stopping running backs and it doesn't take too much to slow down Williams or Tolbert anyway. Newton remains the only clear play on this team but Smith and Olsen make for lower end starts.